At their January meeting, Macon County commissioners discussed issues that have surfaced with area animal control efforts, including avenues for addressing those issues.
At the December 2024 commissioner meeting, Macon County’s health director Kathy McGaha, advised that the Macon County Board of Health was reviewing an option of modifying the holding period in the Animal Control Ordinance and implementing a “community” spay and neuter program. She also addressed staffing issues at the meeting, requesting one additional full-time position to help with “feeding, cleaning, and taking care of the facility and animals.”
Vice Chairman Gary Shields posed some questions at that December meeting about the role of animal control officers, to which McGaha replied that there is a minimal amount of responsibility per the health department regarding dangerous animals. While Chairman Josh Young noted that hiring additional help was a topic for budget discussions, McGaha stated her intention to request shifting an already funded environmental health technician position to animal control.
Regarding a solution to finding additional help for animal control, acting county manager Warren Cabe provided an update at the January 2025 meeting.
“There are legal issues we have to deal with … we need to develop a plan and see if there are any interested parties that would work for you.” Cabe added, “If you want to pursue this further, I need a general consensus from the board to direct me to explore that option further.”
From a county perspective, the effort is focused on finding any possible private enterprise willing to assist with the animal control ordinance requirements.
“I’ll take a vote by the board if you want to make a motion that I pursue that option,” repeated Cabe. “That would be a good place to start. That just directs me to see what options are out there and what is feasible for you to look at in the future.”
Young responded, “It sounds like this is a discovery engagement where we are going to consult involved parties and members of the public.”
Commissioners subsequently agreed to have the county manager pursue options through a feasibility study to potentially find an outside agency to manage the animal shelter if that ends up being the best solution.
Veterinarian cautions commissioners
In response to information presented and exchanged at the December meeting, local veterinarian Joanne M. Roesner, DVM, wrote commissioners and expressed her concerns that Macon County Animal Services (MCAS) personnel are “being unfairly criticized for doing their best to address animal control realities.” Additionally, Dr. Roesner’s request was for existing funding to be utilized in hiring additional help for the shelter.
In her most recent letter, she implored commissioners to “hire a kennel tech at the Macon County Animal Services immediately. … This is an acute need.”
She noted in the letter that staffing levels are “woefully inadequate.”
Regarding potential privatization of county animal services, Dr. Roesner also advised, “As you [commissioners] investigate the model, I beg you to be transparent and keep the public informed.”
According to Dr. Roesner, of particular concern is the future role of MCAS employees and volunteers, as well as monetary input from Macon County toward any private shelter business, as well as how that may compare to existing funding.
At the Feb. 11 commissioners meeting, Dr. Roesner, along with a number of members of the public, expressed gratefulness to the county for listening to constituents and looking for staffing solutions. Dr. Roesner raised continued needs at the shelter, right down to missing smoke detectors.
She pointed out, “I owned a business for 25 years. I would live in absolute terror of employees or volunteers being endangered.” Then, turning to Commissioner John Shearl, she said, “Mr. Shearl gave me two hours of his time,” to discuss problems at the shelter and how to improve public health and safety.
She also implored commissioners to keep “an open door for public comment and some input if you are moving close to privatization of the shelter. We’re the people scooping the dog poop and putting dogs back together.”
Following a number of interventions echoing Dr. Roesener’s appeal, Shearl addressed the crowd, which had spilled over into the hallway: “As a human being and an elected county commissioner, I have these animals at heart. We’re going to work on this. I had a meeting with Kathy [McGaha]. So, we came up with a plan to get the animals, and the shelter [workers], some help over there. In my mind, we still have to have something done with animal control. Is it best to be turned over to the sheriff’s office? These are the questions we’re researching right now because it’s not for us, it’s for the betterment of these animals. I appreciate all of you coming in and showing all your support and interest in this issue. I promise you, this board is looking into making a better situation for these animals,” concluded Shearl, to a strong round of applause.
Vaccination Clinics
Dr. Roesner, Stephanie Pierce, Dawn Todd, and volunteers from Noah’s Ark Humane Society, Pawsitive Shelter volunteers, and the community at large, vaccinated 198 animals on Jan. 25, at no charge.
Vaccination for canine distemper, feline distemper, and canine parvo virus is life-saving for individual pets and saves economically challenged owners from the heartbreak of euthanasia because they could not afford to treat. This event demonstrates the power of people uniting for a cause and actually taking action.
During the event, a young mother shared that her young daughter would be able to keep her two kittens because they were now vaccinated. Another young woman loaded a van with 12 dogs and two cats from her neighbors and family so they could be immunized. Many of patrons [of Noah’s Ark] were seniors who shared they had not been able to afford to seek care for their pets.
Another event is tentatively planned for April in Scaly Mountain. Visit https://noahsarkvet.us/ to learn more.
Amy Kirkpatrick contributed to this article.